Mayor & Council

MEMBERS

John F. "Jay" Coffey, II

Mayor
12/31/2023

Meghan Walker
Council President
12/31/2022

William Deerin

Borough Councilman
12/31/2024

Richard A. Gallo
Borough Councilman
12/31/2023

Bryan Keeshen
Borough Councilman
12/31/2023

Michael O'Brien
Borough Councilman
12/31/2024

Thomas J. Tvrdik
Borough Councilman
12/31/2022

NOTICE: Email received by or sent to Borough officials is subject to the Open Public Records Act [OPRA]. This means that absent some specific privilege, all such communications are considered a public record and are subject to publication and/or dissemination to the public upon request.

Mayor & Borough Council

Oceanport operates under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The Borough form is often referred to as a “weak mayor-strong council” form. The mayor retains all general law authority, presides over council meetings and can vote in the case of a tie. The mayor appoints, with the advice and consent of council, all subordinate officers of the municipality. The council is the legislative body of the Borough. All executive responsibilities not placed in the office of the Mayor by general law or the Borough law remain with the council.

The Borough Council is comprised of six members, elected by the public in partisan elections for three-year terms of office on a staggered schedule, with two seats coming up for election each year. All members have equal power and may vote on all issues. The Mayor is elected by the public in partisan elections for a four-year term of office.

Mayor's Message

Mayor's Message June/July 2022

One of the benefits of living in a small town like Oceanport is that it is easy to get to know your neighbors and get involved in the community. But even in small towns, it is easy to take for granted what should be treasured. On May 14th, I had the distinct honor and privilege of speaking at a memorial service for Steven Widmaier at the Oceanport Hook and Ladder Company. Norman Rockwell could not have painted a more moving picture of small-town America than that service. For those of you who didn’t know him, Steve was a volunteer firefighter here in Oceanport. For those of you who did know him, he was much, much more than just a volunteer firefighter. Steve was everything good that Oceanport has to offer. Need a buddy? Steve. Need a ride? Steve. Need someone to talk to? Steve. Need somebody to sit quietly with? Steve. Need help moving? Steve. Need somebody to fight a fire? Steve. Need somebody you can count on? Steve. Need somebody to tell you what you really need to hear? Steve. Need somebody to just say nothing? Steve.

The funny part is that I really didn’t know Steve. But I didn’t need to know him, because I looked around and realized that Steve is actually all the people who came to mourn, honor, and celebrate him that day. Steve is the volunteer firemen, the policemen, the first aiders, the teachers, the softball players, the executives, the custodians, the moms, the dads, and everybody else who said goodbye to their friend that day. They were saying goodbye to someone who was just like them.